Damon regained consciousness like someone being dragged from a place too deep to the surface too quickly.
There was no smooth transition.
There was no gradual awakening.
It was abrupt.
Heavy.
Painful.
His eyes opened only halfway at first, and all he could see was a shapeless blur of light and shadow, as if the world hadn't yet decided whether it wanted to exist for him again. The sensation came immediately afterward—a crushing pressure inside his skull, as if something were compressing his mind from within, squeezing thoughts, memories, and senses into a space too small to contain them.
He let out a low sound, almost an involuntary groan, slowly bringing one hand to his forehead. The simple movement already seemed to require more effort than it should, as if his body was still trying to remember how to function.
The pain pulsed.
Strong.
Rhythmic.
Disorienting.
